Issued: 1:51 PM PST Saturday, January 15, 2022
by Dallas Glass

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis

A high-pressure ridge situated off the coast continues to control our weather here in the Pacific Northwest. While storms deflect north into Canada, we remain generally warm and dry. This pattern should continue for the extended forecast period. Sunday night, partly to mostly clear skies will allow temperatures inversions to once again build in the mountain valleys and passes. You could even see low clouds develop in some of the more fog-prone locations. On Sunday high thin clouds will provide another day of filtered sunshine. The biggest change should be another pulse of warm air pushing over the region and sending freezing levels rising. This will be most noticable for places near Mt Baker and Washington Pass that recently stayed a bit cooler than other locations. A few thicker bands of clouds could begin to enter the area Sunday afternoon, but should generally hold off until overnight. 

This trend mostly repeats itself Sunday night into Monday. Partly to mostly clear nights allows temperature inversions and patchy fog to return. On Monday, mostly high clouds and filtered sunshine in the morning will transition to increasing clouds by the afternoon. The ridge finally begins to give way under the pressure from a storm to our north. As it does so, clouds will slowly flow into the region from north to south. Even though clouds and wind speeds start to increase, the precipitation seems to hold off until Monday night into Tuesday for most locations. 

 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
Use dropdown to select your zone
Saturday Night Partly to mostly clear with temperatures warming.
Sunday High-thin clouds with filtered sunshine. Passing bands of thicker clouds.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly clear with temperature inversions forming. Low clouds and fog possible.
Sunday Partly to mostly sunny with high clouds. A few stray showers possible. Light to moderate W winds. Warming.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly clear with temperature inversions forming. Patchy low clouds and valley fog.
Sunday Party to mostly sunny with high clouds. Light to moderate W-NW winds increasing slightly in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming in the mountain valleys and passes.
Sunday Mostly sunny with high thin clouds and filtered sunshine.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly clear with temperature inversions forming. Low clouds possible, mostly east of the Pass. Light easterly flow developing overnight.
Sunday Partly to mostly sunny with high thin clouds. Light easterly flow becoming west. Ridgetop winds increasing slightly in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly clear with temperature inversions forming. Low clouds possible, mainly near and east of the Pass. Light easterly flow developing overnight.
Sunday Partly to mostly sunny with high thin clouds. Light easterly flow becoming west. Ridgetop winds increasing slightly in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly clear with temperature inversions forming. Fog and low clouds in the valleys. Light to moderate W winds decreasing slightly.
Sunday Mostly sunny with high thin clouds. Light to moderate W winds.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly clear with temperature inversions forming. Fog and low cloud in some mountain valleys. Moderate WNW winds.
Sunday Mostly sunny with high thin clouds and low valley clouds. Warming. Moderate NW winds.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming. Patchy valley fog possible.
Sunday Mostly sunny with some high thin clouds.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with temperature inversions forming. Low clouds and fog possible. NW winds becoming light to moderate.
Sunday Mostly sunny with high thin clouds. Light to moderate NNW winds decreasing slightly in the afternoon.

Issued: 1:51 PM PST Saturday, January 15, 2022

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 0 0
White Pass 0 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0 0
Timberline 0 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0

Issued: 1:51 PM PST Saturday, January 15, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 7500' 8500' 8500' 9500' 9500' 9000' 8000' 7000'
West North 5000' 5000' 6000' 7000' 7000' 7000' 6500' 5500'
West Central 6500' 6000' 7500' 8500' 8500' 8500' 7500' 6500'
West South 7000' 7000' 8500' 9500' 9000' 9000' 8500' 7500'
Stevens Pass 6500' 6000' 7500' 9000' 8500' 8500' 8000' 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass 7000' 6500' 8000' 9000' 8500' 8500' 8000' 7000'
East North 5000' 5000' 6000' 7500' 8000' 7500' 7000' 6500'
East Central 6500' 6500' 7000' 9000' 8500' 8000' 7500' 7000'
East South 7000' 7500' 8000' 9500' 9000' 9000' 9000' 8000'
Mt. Hood 8500' 8500' 8500' 10000' 9500' 9500' 10000' 9500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 7500'
Saturday Night* 8500'
Sunday Morning* 8500'
Sunday Afternoon 9500'
Sunday Evening 9500'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 8000'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night* 5000'
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon 7000'
Sunday Evening 7000'
Sunday Night 7000'
Monday Morning 6500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 6500'
Saturday Night* 6000'
Sunday Morning* 7500'
Sunday Afternoon 8500'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 7500'
Monday Afternoon 6500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 7000'
Saturday Night* 7000'
Sunday Morning* 8500'
Sunday Afternoon 9500'
Sunday Evening 9000'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 8500'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 6500'
Saturday Night* 6000'
Sunday Morning* 7500'
Sunday Afternoon 9000'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 8000'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 7000'
Saturday Night* 6500'
Sunday Morning* 8000'
Sunday Afternoon 9000'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 8500'
Monday Morning 8000'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night* 5000'
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon 7500'
Sunday Evening 8000'
Sunday Night 7500'
Monday Morning 7000'
Monday Afternoon 6500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 6500'
Saturday Night* 6500'
Sunday Morning* 7000'
Sunday Afternoon 9000'
Sunday Evening 8500'
Sunday Night 8000'
Monday Morning 7500'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 7000'
Saturday Night* 7500'
Sunday Morning* 8000'
Sunday Afternoon 9500'
Sunday Evening 9000'
Sunday Night 9000'
Monday Morning 9000'
Monday Afternoon 8000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 8500'
Saturday Night* 8500'
Sunday Morning* 8500'
Sunday Afternoon 10000'
Sunday Evening 9500'
Sunday Night 9500'
Monday Morning 10000'
Monday Afternoon 9500'

Issued: 1:51 PM PST Saturday, January 15, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 38 / 33 40 / 34
West North 33 / 28 39 / 28
West Central 37 / 29 39 / 30
West South 39 / 30 41 / 32
Stevens Pass 35 / 29 39 / 31
Snoqualmie Pass 38 / 31 38 / 31
East North 32 / 25 36 / 27
East Central 38 / 31 40 / 30
East South 38 / 31 41 / 30
Mt. Hood 37 / 29 44 / 33
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 38 / 33
Sunday 40 / 34
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 28
Sunday 39 / 28
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 29
Sunday 39 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 39 / 30
Sunday 41 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 29
Sunday 39 / 31
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 38 / 31
Sunday 38 / 31
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 25
Sunday 36 / 27
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 38 / 31
Sunday 40 / 30
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 38 / 31
Sunday 41 / 30
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 29
Sunday 44 / 33

Issued: 1:51 PM PST Saturday, January 15, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics WNW 5-15 W 5-15 WNW 15-25 W 10-20
West North W 5-15 W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20
West Central WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 W 5-15 NW 10-20
West South WNW 5-15 W 0-10 NW 5-15 NW 5-15
Stevens Pass WNW 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15 WNW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 10-20
East North W 10-20 W 5-15 W 10-20 W 10-20
East Central WNW 15-25 WNW 15-25 WNW 15-25 NW 15-25
East South WNW 5-15 NW 5-15 NW 5-15 NW 5-15
Mt. Hood WNW 5-15 NW 10-20 NNW 10-20 N 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning WNW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night WNW 5-15
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon NW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night W 0-10
Sunday Morning NW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon NW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning W 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night WNW 5-15
Sunday Morning WNW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning W 10-20
Sunday Afternoon W 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 15-25
Saturday Night WNW 15-25
Sunday Morning WNW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon NW 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night NW 5-15
Sunday Morning NW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon NW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 5-15
Saturday Night NW 10-20
Sunday Morning NNW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15

Issued: 1:51 PM PST Saturday, January 15, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

A weakening storm seems to finally make some headway against our persistent Pacific ridge Monday evening. Rain and high elevation snow appear to spread from NW to SE across the mountains. A weak cold front will help temperatures dip slightly, but with very warm air already in place, it will be hard to bring snow all the way back down to trailhead and pass elevations. After the initial wave of precipitation, weather models diverge significantly. Some guidance wants to bring additional rain and snow to the northwest, while other solutions show the ridge bouncing back and returning us to a dry and warm pattern. We'll have to see how this one plays out. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 4000' 3500' 3000' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4500' 4500' 3500' 3500'
Mt. Hood 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday 4500'
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday 5000'
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday 4500'

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather

Previous forecast from Jan 15, 2022

The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.

The 5000’ temperature forecast does not imply a trend over the 12 hr period and only represents the max and min temperatures within a 12 hr period in the zone. The 6-hr snow level forecast, the forecast discussion, and weather forecast sections may add detail regarding temperature trends.

The snow level forecast represents the general snow level over a 6 hr time period. Freezing levels are forecast when precipitation is not expected.

*Easterly or offshore flow is highlighted with an asterisk when we expect relatively cool east winds in the major Cascade Passes. Easterly flow will often lead to temperature inversions and is a key variable for forecasting precipitation type in the Cascade Passes. Strong easterly flow events can affect terrain on a more regional scale.

Ridgeline winds are the average wind speed and direction over a 6 hr time period.

The wind forecast represents an elevation range instead of a single elevation slice. The elevation range overlaps with the near and above treeline elevation bands in the avalanche forecast and differs per zone.

Wind direction indicates the direction the wind originates or comes from on the 16-point compass rose.

Water Equivalent (WE) is the liquid water equivalent of all precipitation types; rain, snow, ice pellets, etc., forecast to the hundredth of an inch at specific locations. To use WE as a proxy for snowfall amounts, start with a snow to water ratio of 10:1 (10 inches of snow = 1 inch WE). Temperatures at or near freezing will generally have a lower ratio (heavy wet snow) and very cold temperatures can have a much higher ratio (dry fluffy snow).

The label LT, is shorthand for ‘less than’.